All posts tagged: Sugar-Free

Hello, hello! I feel like I owe you an apology. From the moment I dropped the news last September (2015) that Aaron and I were getting hitched to now, this blog has been a low priority. With so much to do for the big day, rare leisure time has been spent enjoying life outside and offline. That big day was last Friday, the 4th of November, and it was just perfect. We were so blessed not only by beautiful weather and an incredible venue, but with the love and generosity of our family and friends. It was nothing short of magical having everyone we hold dear in the one place. Of course, the best part was by far the fact that I got to marry my best friend and soul mate!! I’m now officially a wife, and not just any wife – but my darling Aaron’s wife. Hoorah for that! It sounds so cliche but I’m the happiest girl in the world. The day was full of excited energy but everything came together just as I had hoped. Everyone warns you beforehand …

Before I started my health kick I used to open the fridge door at work at look at the shelves of homemade lunches with envy. There they stood, packed lovingly the night before full of healthy looking goodness. I wanted to be like those who made at work food look so easy. The owners of this food also didn’t have to spend 20 minutes of precious lunchtime hunting for something reasonably healthy to eat. And then pay $15 for the privilege of enjoying said meal. Fortunately, like all those who had come before me, after some investigation I realised that I too could do the food from home thing. All it would take is a little planning, some consideration and confidence and of course, lots of experimentation! You see, bringing healthy, delicious food from home isn’t actually that hard (I know – shock horror!) you just have to prioritise it and apply some savvy organisation tips to the process. Two years later and I’m now a food prep queen (if I don’t say so myself) …

On Sunday I made pie and it was delicious. That sounds kind of old school doesn’t… but I loved every minute of it. Of course, true to my ‘The Whole Life’ approach this wasn’t your ordinary pie. There was no sugar coating or stewed apples. This one was made from quinoa and cinnamon pumpkin. The incredibly simple and delicious feast was from Donna Hay’s Cookbook Fresh and Easy. While her books don’t usually scream sugar free, gluten free or dairy free recipes, this one offers a seriously good bevy of mostly clean options that’s are pretty easy to adapt to your specific food preferences. Before embarking on my health journey, I couldn’t have given two clicks about cooking. To me, food prep wasn’t a pleasure it was a pain so convenience in the kitchen was always key. When I started to take an interest in what I was putting in my body, I had to learn from scratch what it meant to actually make something that wasn’t toast or packet pasta with sauce. At first …

Winter is in full force. So much so, even the thought of leaving the house without a big scarf and warm boots is enough to send shivers down my spine. Fortunately, with the frost also comes the excuse to eat hot, scrumptious desserts whenever a little warmth is needed (ahem, all the time). Our freezer is currently stocked full of organic frozen berries and as a result the humble berry nut crumble is quickly becoming a winter staple. The recipe for this warmer is incredibly simple. The below deconstructed version also keeps all week (crumble in an air-tight container, berries in the freezer) so if you can resist eating it all at once, it’s a handy one to have ready for lunchboxes. Other than being delicious, berries are also antioxidant powerhouses. Their superpowers include the ability to improve mental dexterity and heart health all while reducing the risk of cancer. Which is amazing! They’re also low in fructose and calories (if that’s your thing) so there’s no need to stress about eating too many. The …

It’s a tradition in our relationship to go out for breaky on Saturday mornings. Aaron and I usually jump between a few local cafes as a way to ease ourselves into the weekend. But with me back at boot camp this week I accidentally threw our ritual into chaos. By the time I got home from my session Aaron was awake and happily resting on the couch watching a movie. But when I walked through the door I felt like I’d committed somewhat of a cardinal sin; our Saturday morning vibe was out of joint. We were both pretty keen to stay at home and simply enjoy the morning. With this comfort came the question, what on earth were we going to eat? After a few minutes of searching through the pantry, I thought I might just have the ingredients to make some pancakes. I sensed checked my thinking in a few of my favourite cookbooks of late and wasn’t surprised when I found a stellar recipe in Lola Berry’s new cookbook ‘The Happy Cookbook’. …

Love it or hate it, I think almost every Aussie has visited the Gold Coast’s beautiful beaches and tourism hub, Surfers Paradise, at least once. Well known for its white sand, warm weather and friendly people, the area is a playground for tourists, schoolies, holiday makers, young families and now it appears, health and wellness enthusiasts. For me, the Golide has never really been my destination of choice (stay with me GC readers). I’ve always been more a fan of it’s neighbours Byron, Yamba and Noosa; most probably because I find the high-rise buildings, strip clubs and theme parks that crowd Surfers Paradise a little overwhelming. But despite this, this past Easter long weekend my man and I found our ourselves back near the strip seeking some sun, good food and a bit of R&R. And I’m super glad we did. Our holiday started as any good trip does – making the most of free flights! Aaron was working from Brisbane for the following week, so we thought we’d make the most of his journey …

Pasta has got to be a staple in every Aussie home, right? As a child I used to love twirling spaghetti around my fork and stuffing it in my mouth. When I first moved out my diet consisted almost entirely of the cheapest packet pasta I could find, and in recent years the fresh stuff has seen my love affair grow even stronger. I will happily put my hand up and say that pasta is one of the most delicious foods on this planet. So imagine breaking up with the stuff. For those of us who avoid gluten, pasta is almost permanently off the menu (and because of its soy content, so to are most of the gluten-free versions). For me, this Easter marks one year since my last rendezvous with the Italian delicacy. In terms of substitutes, I’ve always known that fresh gnocchi was an option, but speaking honestly it’s always been one of those recipes that’s just been a little too complicated to attempt. So when my boyfriend requested sweet potato gnocchi for …